Do other long haulers suffer with brain changes? Seen any improvement?

Posted by mindig @mindig, Oct 28, 2021

Hi there,
I am new to the site and have been recommended by my Dr to reach out. I had covid19 in November, I still struggle with fatigue, body aches, shortness of breath, racing heart and cognitive brain changes which have turned my world upside down. Does any one suffer with brain changes? and have you seen improvement over time?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@banksnc49

I have not. If it continues into next week I will get tested.

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Let us know!

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I too was sick all of January, before vaccine was available, and suffer the same anxiety and cognitive issues. Buspirone helps with the anxiety but I wonder how long these sympyoms will last and if there is an effort to understand the long term affects of this virus.

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@mycovid

I too was sick all of January, before vaccine was available, and suffer the same anxiety and cognitive issues. Buspirone helps with the anxiety but I wonder how long these sympyoms will last and if there is an effort to understand the long term affects of this virus.

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Hi @mycovid, sorry that you too are dealing with long-haul COVID. Yes, clinicians and researchers are studying long term effects of the virus. You may be interested in following Mayo’s expert blog on the topic here:
- Post-COVID Recovery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/

Have you considered going to a post-COVID recovery specialty clinic?

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@sueinmn

I am sorry you are in such a difficult situation after having Covid-19. There are so many that are experiencing prolonged and unusual symptoms after the virus - can you tell us how long ago you were infected, whether you were treated with monoclonal antibodies, or were hospitalized and whether you also continue to have respiratory or cardiac symptoms?
There is getting to be a larger body of knowledge, and more therapeutic options, but these can be difficult to find or access, depending on where you are located.
Sue

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I got sick 11/13/20. I had 2 negative tests before the 11/18/20 positive test. I was not offered any antibodies. I got continually worse; pneumonia 11/29/20 treated with Z-pack. 12/6/20 CT showed pneumonia worse treated with doxycycline and albuterol. No hospitalization. Dexamethasone followed by two prednisone tapers. 30 pound weight gain after steroids unable to explain or lose. Dyspnea with any exertion and humidity. Oximeter has always been above 92%. Several inhalers tried. New HTN and palpitations/tachycardia. PT, OT and Speech treating for concussion/ TBI symptoms. I am a nurse supervisor in perfect health; very active and no medications prior. No smoking history, not overweight, walked two miles daily. GI issues, pain daily, sleep patterns disturbed, brain not functioning correctly so unable to work.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @mycovid, sorry that you too are dealing with long-haul COVID. Yes, clinicians and researchers are studying long term effects of the virus. You may be interested in following Mayo’s expert blog on the topic here:
- Post-COVID Recovery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/

Have you considered going to a post-COVID recovery specialty clinic?

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Thank you for the link.

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Hi Mindig
I got covid furst part of nov. 2020. Spent a month in hospital/nursing home. Many of my aches and pains have gone away. I exercise 30 min. 4-5 times a week. If I don't then I back slide very quickly.
I play cards
do cross word puzzles
word search puzzles
500 word puzzles
and started interacting soclially (senior citizen center for me)

Still have brain fog. Seems area of long term memory and short term memory have been effected. Start to speak and stop in mid sentence trying to thing of proper word.
Have to stop and think of it, or ask someone, or research it out i.e. dictionary/computer, etc.
needs reilnforcling, but once that is done I don't have as much problem wlith specliflic issure.
I find making a to-do list the day before and/or keeping a daily calender very useful.
I find if I exercise daily I have much more energy, but still get fatigued, thou less so had I not.
PROGREASS IS REALLY SLOW. Still can't do a push-up. So do 5 or so 1/3-1/2 push-up in my regular exercise rutien (spelling - my mind just went blank)
usually spend 4.5 hours to 6.5 hours per day, five days a week, doing recovery activitlies.
I am 70 years old, and retired.
Have basically developed my routine based my initial therapy (could not get out of bed on my owe to go the the bathroom), of about, plus or minus three months.

There must be a better way, Have not consulted any professionals on these procedures except my initilal Therisptist of 90 day period, twice a week sessions.

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@skinner

Hi Mindig
I got covid furst part of nov. 2020. Spent a month in hospital/nursing home. Many of my aches and pains have gone away. I exercise 30 min. 4-5 times a week. If I don't then I back slide very quickly.
I play cards
do cross word puzzles
word search puzzles
500 word puzzles
and started interacting soclially (senior citizen center for me)

Still have brain fog. Seems area of long term memory and short term memory have been effected. Start to speak and stop in mid sentence trying to thing of proper word.
Have to stop and think of it, or ask someone, or research it out i.e. dictionary/computer, etc.
needs reilnforcling, but once that is done I don't have as much problem wlith specliflic issure.
I find making a to-do list the day before and/or keeping a daily calender very useful.
I find if I exercise daily I have much more energy, but still get fatigued, thou less so had I not.
PROGREASS IS REALLY SLOW. Still can't do a push-up. So do 5 or so 1/3-1/2 push-up in my regular exercise rutien (spelling - my mind just went blank)
usually spend 4.5 hours to 6.5 hours per day, five days a week, doing recovery activitlies.
I am 70 years old, and retired.
Have basically developed my routine based my initial therapy (could not get out of bed on my owe to go the the bathroom), of about, plus or minus three months.

There must be a better way, Have not consulted any professionals on these procedures except my initilal Therisptist of 90 day period, twice a week sessions.

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Such good tips, Skinner. Thank you. Social activity and brain or intellectual stimulation can be so helpful for brain fog. So even by posting your helpful message you were doing both. 🙂

Progress is slow and requires a lot of patience. I applaud your persistence. Regarding push-ups, doing 5 only going down 1/3 or half way is still a push up. Have you thought of adding a couple more but doing them against the wall standing or on the floor from your knees. When I'm trying to build strength I do a combination of knee push-ups and full pushups.

If you go to the Post-COVID Recovery blog, you'll find more tips from Mayo experts. See here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/

It sounds to me like you're doing all the right things!

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@colleenyoung

Such good tips, Skinner. Thank you. Social activity and brain or intellectual stimulation can be so helpful for brain fog. So even by posting your helpful message you were doing both. 🙂

Progress is slow and requires a lot of patience. I applaud your persistence. Regarding push-ups, doing 5 only going down 1/3 or half way is still a push up. Have you thought of adding a couple more but doing them against the wall standing or on the floor from your knees. When I'm trying to build strength I do a combination of knee push-ups and full pushups.

If you go to the Post-COVID Recovery blog, you'll find more tips from Mayo experts. See here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/

It sounds to me like you're doing all the right things!

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THANKS colleen Young for your Nov. suggestion to me (@skinner). Doing modified push-ups on my knees. Just found your email today, and tried it.

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@rinadbq

I have a lot of cognitive issues. I had a 4 hr. evaluation with a Neuro-Physch Dr which pin pointed where my issues are--delayed word finding, memory, recall, sequencing. I am working with a speech therapist which really helps. I keep a notebook log...on one page I write down what I am doing, hour by hour, and on the facing page what kind of symptoms/issues I have through the day like memory, spelling, sleep problems, extreme lethargy, terrible headaches, getting lost while driving a familiar route, hot & cold flashes. staying on task, word finding, body/head pain, dizziness, balance, shortness of breath at rest and/or with exertion, fast heart rate & what that rate is, emotional swings-anger, fear, depression, isolation, feeling overwhelmed. I limit my thinking work (planning my day, balancing check book, making appointments) to 2 hours a day and my physical work (doing housework, walking, garden, cooking) to 2 hours a day. This has been a tremendous step in warding off days of incapacitating exhaustion where I 'crash' and am basically MIA in my own life. I too became ill in November. I am (was) a frontline working-ER Nurse and got sick at work. I lost my job and work comp withdrew their coverage.

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I too have similar issues ! I’m on new supplements but no improvement yet.

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